System of control



K. A. SIMMON.

SYSTEM OF CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 10, 1914. RENEWED AUG- 16',ms.

1,376,468. Pafoenwd May 3,1921.

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W ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL A. SIMMON, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING-HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

SYSTEM OF CONTROL.

Application filed December 10, 1914, Serial No. 876,441.

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL A. SIMMON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Systems ofControl, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of control for electric motors, and ithas special reference to the provision of emergency braking means forelectric railway vehicles upon a. failure of supply-circuit voltage or asimilar contingency.

The object of my invention is to provide means of the above-indicatedcharacter for insuring both dynamic and continued air braking under theemergency conditions referred to.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is to provide novelarrangements of electrically driven and wheel-axle driven aircompressors, whereby, upon the failure of supply-circuit voltage, themomentumdriven vehicle may be automatically suitably retarded by meansof dynamic or-continued air braking or both.

According to one form of my invention, I provide, in connection withpolyphase induction motors having a wound secondary and a cooperatingspeed-controlling resistor or liquid rheostat, for example, anair-compressor that is adapted to be electrically driven from the supplycircuit, a. second aircompressor that is adapted to be driven from awheel axle, and an auxiliary generator that is likewise driven from awheel-axle. The compressors are each preferably of slightly greater thanhalf of the total capacity required, thus insuring continued air brakingwhenever the vehicle is at a standstill or whenever the supply-circuitvoltage fails. h'ieans are provided for automatically connecting theprimary winding of the propelling motor to the auxiliary generator uponfailure of supply-circuit energy, thereby converting the momentum-drivenmotor to a braking generator, the'converted energy being absorbed in theresistor that is associated with the secondary winding of the motor.

In another form of my invention, I provide an aircompressor that'isnormally electrically driven from the supply circuit, but is adapted tobe connected to theauzg- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Renewed August 16, 1918. Serial No. 250,231.

iliary generator upon the failure of supplycircuit energy, the dynamicbraking occur ring as before. Thus, in case of powerhouse,supply-circuit, or vehicle-circuit failure, the vehicle may be readilybrought to rest or maintained at a safe speed when descending a grade,

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of anemergency braking system arranged in accordance with my invention, andFig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the system shown inFig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the system here shown comprises asupply-circuit conductor marked Trolley and a return-circuit conductormarked Ground; a suitable transformer winding T which is connectedacross the supply-circuit conductors; a polyphase induction motormounted upon a driving axle (not shown) and having a primary winding Pand a cooperating secondary winding S, with which a suitablespeed-controlling resistor or liquid rheostat LR or other suitabletranslating device is variably associated; an idler wheel-axle IVA of anelectric railway vehicle upon which the apparatus shown on the drawingis supposed to be suitably mounted and which is mechanically unconnectedto the driving axle; an electrically driven air compressor EC offamiliar form which is adapted to be connected to the transformerwinding T under predetermined conditions; an axle-driven air compressorAC which is adapted to be connected to the wheel-axle, either directlyor through suitable power transmitting means, such as a jack-shaft 1 anda train of gearing 2; an air reservoir R which is connected to both ofthe compressors EC and AC, through suitable check valves CV1 and CV2,respectively; an auxiliary generator Cr which may be mounted upon thejack-shaft 1 or may be driven from the wheel axle in any other suitablemanner; a switch or relay LS of the no-voltage release type which hasits actuating coil conne cted across a predetermined portion of thetransformer winding T; a plurality of switches B1 and B2, of'a familiarelectromagnetic type for connecting'the primary winding'P of thepropelling motor to the armature of the generator G under emergencyconditions; and a suitablesourceof energy, such as a storage battery SB,for

winding resistor LR may be employed in energizing the actuating coils ofswitches B1 and B2 under predetermined conditions, as hereinafterdescribed.

The auxiliary generator G preferably has its armature 3 mounted upon thejack-shaft l, as mentioned above, and is provided with a suitable shuntfield winding 4, the. strength of which may be varied by means of asuitable resistor 5. A variable resistor 6 may be inserted in thecircuit connecting the generator G and the primary winding P of thepropelling motor for varying the rate of dynamic braking, as hereinafterset forth.

The axle driven air compressor AC is adapted to be connected to thejack-shaft l by means of a suitable clutch 9, when the pressure in theair braking system decreases to predetermined value, for which agovernor 10 for the compressor is set, as will be understood. Theelectrically driven coinpressor EC may be provided with a suitablearmature winding 11 and a cooperating series-connected field winding 12,the windings being connected to the transformer winding T when thecooperating contact members 13 of a governor 13 assume a predeterminedlower position upon the decrease of air pressure in the braking systemto a predetermined value. The two compressors AC and EC are preferablyeach of a capacity slightly greater than half of the total capacityrequired for pneumatically braking the vehicle, thereby insuring acontinued supply of air for use either when the supply-circuit energyfails or when the vehicle is at a standstill. Preferably, the governor10 of the axle-driven compressor is adjusted to actuate the clutch 9 ata. pressure approximately 10% lower than the pressure at which thegovernor 13 is adapted to act, thereby insuring that the axle-drivencompressor will be employed to its fullest extent in supplying pressureto the air braking system, whenever the electrically driven:aircompressor is inoperative due to lack of line potent1al or is ofinsu'fficient capac ty to sup.

ply the demand of the braking system.

Inasmuch as the control system for etfecting the normal propellingoperation of the induction motor may be of any well-known and suitabletype and, moreover, is not essential to the operation of my presentinvention, I have not deemed it necessary to show or describe anyparticular type of accelerating; system. It will be understood that thesingle-phase energy absorbed from the transformer winding T may beconverted into polyphase ener y, for supplying the propellinginductionmotor, by means of a suitable phase converter, and that the secondaryeffectingacceleration, in accordance with usual practice.

Assuming the parts of the system to occupy the respective positionsshown, the

translating device or resistor Lit emergency braking operation thereofmay be set forth as follows: Upon the failure of supply-circuit voltage,the switch or relay Lid, which is maintained in its raised positionwhenever the supply-circuit energy traverses the transformer winding T,assumes its lower position shown on the drawing, whereupon a circuit iscompleted from one terminal of the storage batter SB through cooperatingstationary and movable contact members l l ofthe relay LS and theactuating coils of the switches B1 and B2 to the other terminal of thebattery. The switches B1 and B2 are thus closed to connect the primarywinding P of the propelling motor, through the variable resistor (5,across the armature 3 of the auxiliary generator G. The propelling motoris thereupon converted into a braking generator, the energy of thevehicle as-its speed decreases, being absorbed electrically by the Dthat is sociated with the secondary winding S of the propelling motor.The rate of retardation may be varied by manipulating the re sister 6.If itis desired to concurrently employ air braking of the vehicle, asuitable pressure will be maintained in the reservoir it by theoperation of the axle-driven compressor AC, the electrically drivencompressor EC, of course, being temporarily inoperative by reason of thefailure of supply circuit voltage.

Referring now to Fig. :2 of the drawing, it will be noted that thedifference from the control system illustrated in Fig. 1 resides in theomission of the axle-driven compressor AC with its accessories, and inthe adaptability of the electrically driven compressor EC for connectionto the enerator G under winding T in the same manner shown in l, but forthe sake oi simplic1ty and clearness, the necessary connections havebeen omitted from Fig. 2.

Again, assuming that the parts of the system shown in Fig. 2 occupy therespective positions illustrated, the emergency braking operation of thesystem upon a failure of the supply-circuit energy may briefly be de-'scribed as follows The relay LS and the switches B anc B are adapted tooperate in the same manner as that described in connection with thesystem ofFig. 1, and, in addil7,-the armature 11 and the field winding12 of the compressor, the cooperating contact members '13 ofthe governor13*, provided the latter occupies its low-pressure position,

and the conductor 18 to the other side of the generator armature 3. Thecompressor EU may thus be driven from the generator G as long thevehicle is in motion, irrespective of the failure of supply-circuitvoltage.

It will be observed that the systems set forth provide means forautomatically effectin either dynamic or continued air braking, or both,of a momentum-driven vehicle under emergency conditions, whereby thevehicle may be readily brought to rest or maintained at a suitable speedwhen descending a grace.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specilic circuit connections orarrangement of parts herein set forth, as modifications there-- or" may.30 effected within the spirit and scope of my invention. 1, therefore,desire taat only such limitations shall be imposed 1 are indicated inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit and anair compressor operated from the supply circuit, of a second aircompressor, means for effecting dynamicbraking, and means for operatingsaid sec ond air compressor by the momentum of the vehicle.

In an electric railway vehicle, the combination with an air storagereser oir and a source of energy for operating the vehicle, or" anelectrically-driven compressor communicating with said reservoir andoperated from said source of energy, a second com prcssor adapted to bedriven from the vehicle wheels and also communicating with saidreservoir, each of said compressors having a capacity of approximatelyhalf of the total capacity required and means for ellecting dynamicbraking ot the vehicle.

3. In an electric railway vehicle, the combination with means foreffecting dynamic braking when the vehicle is momentumdriven, of anair-storage reservoir, an electrically driven compressor communicatingwith said reservoir, and a second compressor adapted to be driven fromthe vehicle wheels and also communicating with said reservoir, each ofsaid compressors a capacity eproximatelw half of the total capacity "cillh'Gfl. whereo l i ooth dynamic and coni braking are assured in caseof of the supply-circuit voltage. .i a system of control. thecombination supply circuit, and an electric vehicle-propelling motor, ofan auxiliary genrating dynamo-electric machine driven rom the vehiclewheels, an air-storage resera motor-driven compressor intermiton. entlyenergized from said supply circuit nd communicating with said reservoir,a second compressor also communicating with said reservoir and adaptedto be mechanica ly connected to said auxiliary machine underpredetermined conditions, each of said compressors having a capacity ofapproximately halt of the total capacity required, and means dependentupon a predetermined variation in the supply-circuit voltage forconnecting said machine to energize said motor to effect dynamic brakingof the vehicle, whereby both dynamic and continued air braking areassured in case of failure of the supply-circuit voltage.

5. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and anelectric vehiclepropelling motor, of an auxiliary generator driven fromthe vehicle wheels, an air-storage reservoir, :1 motor-driven compressorcommunicating with said reservoir and adapted to be intermittentlyenergized from said supply circuit, when the reservoir pressure fallsbelow a predetermined value, a second compressor also communicating withsaid reservoir and adapted to be mechanically connected to saidgenerator when the pressure falls below a second predetermined value,each of said compressors having a ca pacity of approximately half of thetotal capacity required, and means dependent upon a predetermineddecrease of supply circuit voltage for connecting said machine toenergize said motor to effect dynamic braking of the vehicle, wherebyboth dynamic and continued air braking are assured in case of failure ofthe supply-circuit voltage.

6. In a control system, the combination with a supply circuit, and anelectric vehiclepropelling'motor, of an auxiliary generatingdynamo-electric machine driven from the vehicle wheels, a motor-drivencompressor a: pted to be connected to said supply circuit, and meansdependent upon a predetermined variation in the supply-circuit Voltagefor connecting said machine to energize said motor to effect dynamicbraking of the vehicle.

7. In an electric vehicle, means for ctl'ecting dynamic braking, anelectrically operated air compressor tor effecting air braking, a secondauxiliary air compressor, and means tor operating said second air compressor by the momentum of the vehicle. i 8. In an electric vehicle, thecombination with a propelling motor and a. fluid-brake system havingfluid compressors associated therewith, of mean for selectivelyoperating said compres as in accordance with the fluid pressure in thefluid-brake system, and means for effecting dynamic braking by saidpropelling motor. 7

9. In an electrical vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit, apropelling inotor, and means associated with said motor for effectingdynamic braking of the vehicle, of an air-brake system, air compressorsassociated with the air-brake system and operby the momentum of thevehicle and nergy received from the supply circuit cuit to effectdynamic brakin for maintaining pressure in said air-brake system, andmeans for selectively operating said compressors in accordance with thefluid pressure in the airbrake system.

10. In an electrical vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit, apropelling motor, and means associated with said motor for effectingdynamic braking of the vehicle, of an air-brake system and aircompressors operated respectively by the momentum of the vehicle and byenergy received from the line circuit for maintaining pressure in saidair-brake system.

11. In an electrical vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit, anair compressor operated from the supply circuit and a second aircompressor adapted to be operated by the momentum of the vehicle, ofmeans for effecting dynamic braking of the vehicle and means forselectively operating said air compressors.

12. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a propellingdynamo-electric machine, of an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine drivenfrom the vehicle wheels, means dependent upon predetermined machineelectrical conditions for connecting said auxiliary machine to energizesaid propelling machine to effect dynamic braking of the vehicle, andmeans for preventing such connection except during the existence of saidpredetermined conditions.

13. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit and adynamo electric machine, of a second dynamo-electric machine, meansdependent upon a predetermined variation in the supply-circuit voltagefor connecting said machines in cirand means for preventing suchconnection except during said predetermined variation.

14. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine, of an auxiliaryvdynamo-electric machine, and means dependent upon predeterminedconditions for connecting said auxiliary machine to energize said firstmachine to effect dynamic braking, said means being independent of themeans for controlling said first machine.

15. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, and amain dynamo-electric machine, of an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine incircuit with said main machine, means for normally maintaining thesecond-named circuit open, and means for closing said second-namedcircuit upon a predetermined variation in the voltage of said supplycircuit.

16. The combination with a source of energy and a dynamo-electricmachine connected thereto, of a second dynamo-electric machine, and arelay in circuit with said source for automatically connecting saidmachines in a dynamic braking circuit during predetermined conditionssaid source.

17. In a system of control, the combina tion with a supply circuit, andan electric motor, of a dynamo-electric machine in circuit with saidmotor, a switch for normally maintaining the second-named circuit open,and a relay controlled by predetermined variations in the supply-circuitvoltage for closin said switch.

18. in a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, andan electric vehicle-propelling motor, of:' an auxiliary generatingdynamo-electric machine driven from the vehicle wheels, and meansdependent upon a predetermined decrease in sup: ply-circuit voltage andindependent of the rotation of saidv propelling motor for connectingsaid machine to energize said motor to effect dynamic braking of thevehicle.

19. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anelectric vehicle-propelling motor having primary and secondary windings,and a translating device connected to one of said windings, of anauxiliary generator mechanically unconnected to said motor and drivenfrom the vehicle wheels, a resistor, and means dependout upon apredetermined variation of the supply-circuit voltage for connectingsaid generator, said resistor and one of said windings to cause theother winding to send current through said translating device fordynamically braking the vehicle.

20. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a dynamo-electricmachine, of an auxiliary dynamoelectric machine mechanically unconnectedto said first machine and driven from the vehicle wheels, and meansdependent upon predetermined main circuit conditions for connecting saidauxiliary machine to ener ize said propelling machine to effect dynamicbraking of the vehicle.

21. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a propellingdynamo-electric machine and a source of. energy therefor, of anauxiliary dynamo-electric machine driven from the vehicle wheels, meansfor connecting said propelling machine to said source, and meansindependent of said connecting means for connecting said machines in adynamo braking circuit during predetermined conditions.

22. The combination with a vehicle, of means for automatically effectingboth dynamic braking and fluid-braking of said vehicle underpredetermined electrical operating conditions.

23. The combination with a vehicle having an axle, of a fluid compressordriven from said axle and means controlled by said axle for effectingdynamic braking of said vehicle.

24. In an electric vehicle, a propelling alternating-current motor, anair compressor, and means operated by the momentum of the vehicle foroperating said air compressor and for effecting dynamic braking of thevehicle.

25. In an electric vehicle having an axle, an air compressor connectedto said axle, and means operated by the momentum of the vehicle foroperating said air compressor and for effecting dynamic braking or" thevehicle.

26. The combination with a propelling dynamo-electric machine, anauxiliary dynamoelectric machine, and an air compressor, of meansdependent upon predetermined machine electrical conditions forconnecting said auxiliary machine to energize said propelling machine toeffect dynamic braking of the vehicle, and means dependent uponpredetermined compressor operating conditions for operating said aircompressor.

27. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, andan electric vehicle-propelling motor, of an auxiliary generator drivenfrom the vehicle wheels, means dependent upon a predetermined decreasein supply-circuit voltagefor connecting said generator to energize saidmotor to effect dynamic braking of the vehicle, and means driven by thevehicle for eilecting air-braking.

28. In a control system, the combination with an electricvehicle-propelling motor, of an auxiliary generating dynamo-electricmachine driven from the vehicle wheels, an air compressor adapted to bedriven from the vehicle wheels, and means "dependent upon apredetermined variation in the supply-circuit voltage for connectingsaid machine to energize said motor to affect dynamic braking of thevehicle.

29. In an electric vehicle having an axle, the combination with apropelling motor, and a generator and an air compressor connected tosaid axle, of means for connecting said generator to said motor toeffect dynamic braking of said vehicle, and means for effecting airbraking by said com pressor.

30. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anelectric vehicle having an axle, a vehicle-propelling motor, and afluid-brake system having afluid compressor associated therewith, ofmeans independent of said supply circuit for mechanically connectingsaid compressor to said axle when the pressure in said fluid system isreduced in a predetermined degree, and means for eflecting dynamicbraking by said propelling motor.

31. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a propellingdynamo-electric machine and a source of current therefor, of meansconnected to said source for braking the vehicle and means for brakingthe vehicle upon failure of voltage in said source.

32. In an electric vehicle, the combination with means for automaticallyefiecting dynamic braking under predetermined electrical operatingconditions when the vehicle is momentum driven, of a compressormechanically connected to the vehicle wheels.

33. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit, andmeans for effecting dynamic braking of the vehicle, of an air-brakesystem, means operated by the momentum of the vehicle for maintainingpressure in said air-brake system, and other means operated by energyreceived from said supply circuit for maintaining pressure in saidair-brake system.

34:. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anelectric vehiclepropelling motor, and a motor-driven air-compressoroperated from the supply circuit, of an auxiliary dynamo-electricmachine driven from the vehicle wheels, and means dependent upon apredetermined variation in the supply-circuit voltage for connectingsaid machine to energize said motor to eflect dynamic braking of thevehicle.

35. In an electric vehicle, the combination with an electrically drivenfluid compressor, of a second fluid compressor adapted to be driven bythe vehicle. 4

36. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a supply circuit, of anair-brake system including two compressors, means operated by themomentum of the vehicle for maintaining pressure in said air-brakesystem through the medium of one compressor, and other means operated byenergy received from said supply circuit for maintaining pressure insaid air-brake system through the medium of the other compressor.

37. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a fluid-brake systemhaving fluid compressors associated therewith, of means for selectivelyoperating said compressors in accordance with the fluid pressure in saidfluid-brake system.

38. In an electric railway vehicle, the combination with an air-storagereservoir, of an electrically driven. compressor communicating with saidreservoir and a second compressor adapted to be driven from the vehiclewheels and also communicating with said reservoir, each of saidcompressors having a capacity of approximately one-half of the totalcapacity required.

39. The combination with a vehicle, of an electrically driven fluidcompressor and a mechanically driven fluid compressor for braking saidvehicle, and means for rendering one or both of said compressorseffective to brake said vehicle under predetermined conditions.

40. The combination with an electric vehicle having an axle, a drivingmotor therefor and a source of energy for said motor, of a fluidcompressor adapted to be driven from said source, a fluid compressoradapted to be driven from said axle and a generator adapted to besupplied with energy from said axle.

41. The combination with an electric vehicle having an axle, of analternating-current motor therefor having primary and secondarywindings, a translating device in circuit with said secondary windings,a source of energy, means for connecting said primary windings to saidsource, a fluid compressor adapted to be driven from said source, afluid compressor adapted to be driven from said axle, a generatoradapted to be driven from said axle, and means for connecting saidgenerator to said primary windings.

42. In an electric vehicle, the combination with a propellingdynamo-electric machine, an auxiliary dynamo-electric machine drivenfrom the vehicle wheels, and a mot0r-driven air compressor, of meansdependent upon predetermined main-circuit conditions for connecting saida xiliary machine to energize certain windings of said propellingmachine to effect dynamic-bra ring oi? the vehicle and for operatingsaid air compressor.

4:8. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anair compressor, and an electric vehicle-propelling motor, of anauxiliary generating dynamo-electric machine driven from the vehiclewheels, and means dependent upon a predetermined decrease insupply-circuit voltage for connecting said-machine to energize certainwindings of said motor to effect dynamicbraking of the vehicle and foroperating said air compressor.

44. in a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anelectric vehiclepropelling motor having primary and secondary polyphasewindings, and atranslating device connected to the secondary winding, ofan auxiliary generator driven from the vehicle wheels, an air compressorassociated with said generator, and means dependent upon a predetermineddecrease in supply-circuit voltage for connecting said generator toenergize said primary winding to cause the secondary winding to generatethrough said translating device for dynamically-braking the vehicle andfor operating said air compressor.

45. In a'system of control,thecombination with an alternating-currentsupply circuit, an air compressor, an electric vehicle-propellingmotorrhaving primary and secondary polyphase windings for effectingacceleration of the vehicle, and a resistor connected to the secondarywinding, of an auxiliary direct-current generator driven from thevehicle wheels, and means dependent upon a failure of supply-circuitvoltage for coniecting said generator to energize said primary windingto cause the secondary winding to generate through said resistor fordynamically-braking the vehicle and for operating said air compressor.

46. In a control system, the combination with a supply circuit, and anelectric vehide-propelling motor, oi an auxiliary generator driven fromthe vehicle wheels, a motor-driven compressor adapted to be energizedfrom said generator under predetermined conditions of fluid pressure,and means dependent upon a predetermined decrease in supply-circuitvoltage for connec ing said generator to energize certain windings oisaid motor to effect dynamic-braking of the vehicle.

AH. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, anelectric vehicle-propelling motor having primary and secondary polyphasewindings, and a translating device connected to the secondary winding,of an auxiliary direct-current genorator driven from the vehicle wheels,a motor-driven compressor adapted to be energized from said generatorunder predetermined conditions of fluid pressure, and means dependentupon a failure of supplycircuit voltage for connecting said generator tooncr lary winding to generate through said translating device fordynamicallybralring the vehicle.

$8. In a. system of control for an electric vehicle, the combinationwith a supply circuit, a propelling motor, and a motor-driven aircompressor operated from the supply circuit, of means for eilectingdynamic-braking and for operating saidair compressor with energygenerated independently of said motor and by the momentum of thevehicle.

49. The combination with a source of energy, a fluid compressor having adriving motor and a generator, of a switch for connecting said generatorto said drivingmotor under. predetermined conditions 01": said source.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day ofNov., 1914:. i

v KARL A. SIMMON.

ine said primary winding to cause

